Wringer washing machine combination



Jan. 17, 1961 G. M. GIBSON WRINGER WASHING MACHINE COMBINATION 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 8, 1955 H H H .1 H H H .II rm 3 1 \h Ill llllalwil EU ww mQ ur .F Maw mm @w R @w WW &

Jan. 17, 1961 e. M. GIBSON 2,968,173

WRINGER WASHING MACHINE COMBINATION Filed July 8, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 v $60 96 M GibSO/Z Jan. 17, 1961 G. M. GIBSON 2,968,173

WRINGER WASHING MACHINE COMBINATION Filed July 8, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

560 621 Gibson 5W a e G. M. GIBSON WRINGER WASHING MACHINE COMBINATION Jan. 17, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 8, 1955 INVENTOR. ff. GzJSO/Z m 1 G. M. GIBSON 2,968,173

WRINGER WASHING MACHINE COMBINATION Filed July 8, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 17, 1961 G. M. GIBSON 2,968,173

WRINGER WASHING MACHINE COMBINATION Filed July 8, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TOR.

Gozye ff Gibson United States Patent WRINGER WASHING MACHINE COMBINATION George M. Gibson, G. M. Gibson Corporation,

Bellevue, Iowa Filed July s, 1955, Ser. No. 520,791

21 Claims. 01. 68-22) This invention relates to a new and novel construction of a wringer and washing machine combination. More specifically the invention is directed to a simplified low cost wringer designed to be integrally embodied into a small apartment size domestic washing machine, with the wringer being constructed for quick wringer roll release and further including a novel arrangement for wringer roll storage when the machine is not in use. Obviously, the wringer is applicable to any type and size of washing machine incorporating a wringer.

One of the objects of the present invention relates to the provision of a washing machine having a crown or top design to provide a cover construction adapted to receive and to carry a wringer mechanism constructed and arranged for direct cooperation and use with said washing machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a washing machine and wringer combination wherein the machine has a crown or top of predetermined configuration with surface areas to provide water drain areas for the machine top and with a run-off area encircling the tub. The crown has wringer supporting means and other surface areas disposed in predetermined relation with respect to the wringer adjacent its location to form wringer drain board means contiguously arranged in relation to the aforesaid balance of the machine top or crown drain areas.

As another object of this invention, the washing machine crown or top is provided as the main supporting structure for the wringer mechanisms, for the tub, and for all of the other washing machine operational mechanisms thus providing a unitary assembly for such mechanisms wherein a walled enclosure or housing surrounds all such units and provides a ledge upon which to carry the crown or top. The wringer is upwardly disposed by the crown or top and the tub and other operational mechanisms and assembled units depend from the crown or top downwardly into the housing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wringer having at least one bodily swingable wringer roll cooperating with a companion roll and wherein said one roll may be entirely and bodily separated from and disposed into an inoperative position remote from its operative position adjacent its companion roll.

It is another object of the present invention to provide wringer operating mechanism adapted for moving the wringer rolls between operative and inoperative positions and including incorporated roll tensioning means arranged to automatically render the rolls operative or inoperative according to the shifted positions of the wringer rolls from operative to inoperative positions, respectively.

And another object of this invention is to provide a wringer and washing machine combination cooperatively arranged to permit complete housing of the wringer rolls below a predetermined upper level of the machine top or crown when the machine is not in use and to further permit the accommodation of a lid or auxiliary table top cover upon the machine for decorative or useful purposes.

Other objects and advantages relating to the novel wringer washing machine combination will hereinafter appear in the following detailed description having reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

' Figure 1 is a plan view of a washing machine incorporating the new and novel wringer mechanisms of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the washing machine and wringer combination of the present invention with certain portions thereof broken away and illustrated in section, this view being taken as looking in a direction along the axes of the wringer rolls;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 in Figure 1 illustrating certain details of the associated and combined wringer mechanism of the washing machine;

Figure 4 is another vertical cross sectional view taken transversely of the wringer rolls and substantially as seen along the line 44 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the washing machine top or crown constituting a combination drain area for the tub of the machine and drain board means for the wringer, this unit being illustrated per se as removed from the machine;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 in Figure 5 illustrating certaindetails of construction of the washing machine crown;

Figure 7 is another transverse cross sectional view of the crown as viewed along the line 77 in Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 in Figure 5 to illustrate further details of the crown.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the washing machine comprises a caster supported housing 1 having side walls 2 terminating in upper ledge portions such as 3 and 4 to support a unitary top or crown 5 forming a decorative cover and having various surface area configurations which together form a drain unit to return water from the cover into the tub 6 of the machine.

The general detailed construction of the balance of the working parts of the washing machine and the associated mechanisms thereof are all better illustrated and described in my copending application Serial No. 520,790, filed of even date herewith, now Patent No. 2,893,264.

Briefly, this washing machine construction includes the tub 6 suitably secured to the under side of the crown 5 by such fastening means as of the character illustrated in Figure 4 wherein upper ends 7 of the side walls 2 of the tub 6 include a resilient peripheral seal 8 engaging the under surface 9 of the crown 5 and wherein the screw fastening means such as 10 are carried by lugs 11 secured to the crown 5 to fasten the tub wall 2 and its seal 8 laterally against a depending flange 12 that follows about the under side 9 of the crown 5 and also follows the contour of the upper open end of the tub.

The other operational mechanisms of the washing machine are all carried by and assembled with the tub structure and upon a pair of angle irons 13 and 14 that are secured to the tub 6 and dependent therefrom in spaced relation as best illustrated in Figure 2. A vertically shiftable power means comprising a motor 15 is suitably mounted on a bracket structure 15a for vertical movement relative to the angle irons 13 and 14 and includes drive pulleys 16 and 17 secured to the motor shaft 18 which pulleys are located forwardly as viewed in Figure 2. Shaft 18 also carries a friction wheel such as 19 mounted on the rear portion of the motor.

A belt 20 is trained over pulley 16 and is adapted to drive a pulley 21 mounted on a bracket supported shaft 22 and which shaft carries a second pulley 23 that is connected by a belt 24 with the wringer driving pulley 25. The second pulley 17 on shaft 18 is connected by means of a belt 26 to drive a pulley 27 secured to an agitator driving shaft 23 which is adapted to unidirectionally drive the agitator 29 located Within the tub 6. A pump 30 is mounted on the bottom of the tub for draining the tub and includes a pump drive shaft 31 which is driven by a friction wheel 32 which receives its power from the friction wheel 19 of the motor when the motor is vertically shifted into a predetermined position causing driving contact between wheels 19 and 32.

The general drive arrangement includes a manually operated vertically shiftable mechanism consisting of the link means 33 which shifts the motor carrying bracket 15a vertically against springs 34 by means of a guided arrangement carried by the angle irons 13 and 14. The wringer drive is completed by operating a foot pedal 35 against a spring 35a and which shifts a bracket arrangement 36 laterally together with a second bracket 37 mounted upon bracket 36 to move the pulley shaft 22 and pulley 21 into a shifted position whereby the belt 20 is tightened so that power is transmitted from the motor shaft 18 through pulley 16 and belts 20 and 24 to the wringer drive mechanism. As more completely illustrated and described in a copending application Serial No. 520,790, filed July 8, 1955., now Patent No. 2,893,264, the drive to the wringer is independently operated from the drive to the agitator.

It should be noted, therefore, that the entire operative mechanisms of the washing machine including the tub are all mounted so as to depend from the underside of the crown which is carried upon the top edge of the housing or apron 1.

Not only does the top or crown 5 support these mechanisms as described, but this particular crown is arranged to also support and embody the wringer 38 in a predetermined operative position in. relation to the tub of the machine.

As best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the wringer consists of upper and lower rolls 39 and 40 respectively, of which the lower roll 40 is mounted for operation within an opening 41 in the crown 5 and with the top portion of the roll below the upper edge or ridge 42 of such crown. The upper roll 39 is swingably carried upon a pair of links 43 and 44 that are pivotally supported upon the shouldered screw studs 45. and 46 secured to the side portion of the upstanding Walls 47 and 48 of the crown 5.

The respective positioning of these rolls is accomplished by providing the lower roll with a central shaft 49 that is secured to the roll 40 and which carries a pair of sleeves 50 and 51 on the projecting ends of shaft 49 and which sleeves seat in the bearing troughs 52 and 53 respectively which are formed in the side and bottom portions of the crown 5. The upper roll is positioned and carried by means of a shaft 54 formed in suitable aligned openings in links 43 and 44 and this shaft rides in a sleeve 55 in roller 39 with the terminal ends of shaft 54 supporting a pair of rollers 56 and 57 laterally of the ends of the roll 39.

To hold the wringer rolls in operative engagement as shown in Figure 4 a swinging bail or bracket 58 is employed, and this bracket includes side arms 59 and 60 connected by a crossover release bar 61 as best shown in Figure 1. This bracket or bail is provided with aligned openings 62 in the lower ends of the side arms which receive the hook portions 63 and 64 of the spring tensioning bolts 65 and 66 that are slidably carried in the bores 67 and 63 in the side wall portions of the crown 5. Compression springs 69 and 70 are carried upon the bolts 65 and 66 respectively and are interposed between adjutable nuts 71 and 72 that are threaded upon the ends 73 and 74 of the spring holding bolts 65 and 66. The upper ends of the springs 69 and 70 engage the underside portions 75 and 76 of portions of the crown 5 so that each of the spring units coacts to pull the opposite end portions of the bail or bracket unit 53 downwardly by means of engagement within the openings 62 that are formed in the side arms 59 and 60 of the bracket 58.

Each of the side arms 59 and 60 of the bail 58 are also provided intermediate their lengths with offset ledges or landings 77 and 78 which are best illustrated in Figures l and 4 and which landings are for the purpose of engaging over the tops of the rollers 56 and 57 that are carried on the extended end portions of the upper roller shaft 54. When the rolls are in the full line operative position as illustrated in Figure 4, the bail or bracket 53 is angularly positioned as shown with the ledge portions or landings 77 and 78 of the bail over the rollers 56 and 57 to urge the upper roll 39 of the wringer against the lower roll 40 as brought about through the instrumentality of the tensioning devices which include the springs 69 and 70. Each of the landings or ledges 77 and 75 include an intermediate upward deformation such as shown at 79 and 80 which deformations are downwardly cupped recesses to provide releas able detent reference means to contact the circumferences of the adjacent rollers to normally maintain the bail 53 in the full line angular position shown in Figure 4. Thus the deformed units 77 and 78 comprise releasable detent means that are normally disposed in engagement with the adjacent rollers 56 and 57 and through which and the spring compression devices the upper roller 39 is normally urged downwardly against the roller 40 and kept under this actuation while the clothing is passed through the wringer rolls with the rolls always returning to the full line position as shown in Figure 4 after the clothes have passed through such rolls.

If it should be necessary to quickly release or to separate the rolls, movement of the bail 53 into the dot and dash line position illustrated in Figure 4 will release the rollers of the upper roll from under the ledges 77 and 78 permitting roll 39 to swing bodily about the pivotal units 45 and 46 into an upward and outward position such as indicated in dot and dash lines to the left in Figure 4. The same release operation is carried out whenever the washing or wringing operation has been completed, and in that case, the roll 39 can be swung through substantially degrees into the full line position illustrated in Figure l permitting the roll 39. to partially enter or nest within the tub opening 81 in the crown 5 with the bail 58 being thereafter swung in the same direction and downwardly into a position below the top or ridge 42 of the crown 5 and substantially into the relation illustrated in Figure 1 straddling the high portions of the drain board section of the cover. This relative relationship. of the rolls 39 and 40 and the bail 58 provides a clear top for the. machine so that the crown is capable of receiving an auxiliary lid or table top such as 82 which can be seated on top of the crown 5 to decoratively close oil the upper end of the washing machine and to also provide a utility or working surface.

It should be noted as shown in Figure 4 that when the bail 58 is swung into a position out of contact with the oppositely arranged rollers 56 and 57 of the wringer roll 39 that the end of the bail will be brought downwardly into contact with the surface portions 83 of the crown through the actuation of the resilient wringer roll spring mechanisms. In bringing the roll 39 back into the full line position shown in Figure 4 from a previous housed position as shown in Figure 1, it is then only necessary to bring the bail 58 into a position over the rollers 56 and 57 which is easily accomplished by first raising the bail 58 for clearance and then moving the roll 39 on top of the roll 40, and then by swinging the bail or release bar 61 of bail 58 back over the rollers into the relationship in which the full line portion of this apparatus is indicated in Figure 4. As the bail is moved from the broken line position in Figure 4 into the full line position the offset ledge portions 77 and 78 ride up upon the surface of the rollers 56 and 57 thus instituting an initial pressure between the wringer rolls 39 and 40 causing the end portions of the side arms 59 and 69 to be raised off of the surface portions 83 of the crown and thereby tensioning the oppositely disposed spring mechanisms carried by the spring bolts 65 and 66.

As previously described, the drive to the wringer is accomplished through the belt 24 and pulley 25, and as best shown in Figure 3 the pulley 25 is connected with a stub shaft 84 rotatably carried in a sleeve 85 supported by a bearing bracket 86 that is mounted with suitable screws 87 to bosses 88 forming a portion of the crown 5. Stub shaft 84 carries a pinion 89 which meshes with a gear 90 having a hub portion 91 which is provided with a radially disposed driving pin 92 that operates within a slot 93 in projecting end portion 94 of the wringer roll shaft 49 that carries the lower roll 40 of the wringer rolls. The gear 98 has the opposite ends of the hub 91 journalled in cavities 95 and 96 respectively which are portions of the bored openings formed in the crown 5.

Through the operation of the foot pedal 35 as previously described, the drive from the motor is transmitted through the belt 20, pulleys 21 and 23, belt 24, and pulley 25 thfough the particular gear mechanism shown in Figure 3, transmitting the drive to the lower roll 40 of the wringer. Release of the pedal 35 discontinues the wringer drive.

The crown 5 which comprises the top of the washing machine and the main supporting base for all of the operative washing machine mechanisms, including the newly devised wringer construction, is better illustrated :in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8. One side portion of the crown includes a working surface 97 which runs the length of the cover and flanks the tub opening 81 and the opening 41 which accommodates the lower wringer roll 40. The upstanding ridge portions 47 and 48 previously referred to are connected by a coextensive ridge or flanged wall 98 so as to confine drain areas such as 99, 100 and 101 around the adjacent portions of the tub opening 81. An intermediate portion of the crown 5 is provided with a configuration comprising a drainboard surface 102 which slopes downwardly from a high point 103 adjacent the wringer rolls to a low point 104 across the tub opening. The balance of the crown beyond the wringer roll opening 41 terminates with a shelf portion 105 which is provided for the removal of the clothes and for the guided convenience of moving them to the lid or auxiliary table top 82 shown in Figure 1.

Since practically all of the water that is extracted from the clothes is drained in advance of the wringer rolls referring to the side at which the clothes enter, all of the water will be substantially returned into the tub 6 through the tub opening 81 of the crown and as directed by the drainboard surface portion 102. Some of the water will spill through the opening 41 which will obviously also flow into the tub. With the arrangement shown and described and encompassing the various facilities for supporting the wringer rolls through the configuration and design of the cover, as characterized by the troughs 52 and 53 for supporting the lower roll, the threaded bores such as 1% and 107 which receive the threaded cap screws 45 and 4-6, and the apertures such as 67 and 68 for guiding the tcnsioning mechanism bolts 65 and 66 together with the coextensive drain surface areas mentioned, all of the crown contour areas coact to provide an efiicient single unit of simplified design for carrying out and functioning in various capacities as set forth. With this single structural crown or top element, the entire assembly of the machine can be efficiently accomplished and at the same time the wringer structure is integrally incorporated and associated into the entire unit as a means for efficiently carrying out the wringing operation with a simplified wringer construction. Furthermore, as described, the drives to the various operational mechanisms of the washing'machine are also extremely simplified and readily operated, and as previously stated, a further description and amplification of the purposes and various features of the drive mechanisms may be referred to in my copending application hereinbefore specified.

Not only does the crown design function in the various capacities noted, but it is also directly combined and associated with the wringer mechanism to provide the main support therefor together with the draining facilities. Also by its configuration the crown provides the means for housing the wringer rolls when the washing machine is not in use. The entire crown-wringer arrangement feasibly incorporates the simplified wringer roll release mechanism. i

The above description has been directed to a preferred embodiment of the invention and it is contemplated that certain changes may be made in the individual elements and in the combination of elements shown and described without departing from the fundamental concept of the invention. Any such changes and modifications shall, however, be governed by the breadth and scope of the language of the appended claims directed to the present invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a washing machine, in combination, a tub, a closure unit on said tub comprising a first section having working and drain surfaces surrounding an opening in said section arranged for communication with the tub, bearing means provided upon said section in given relation with respect to said tub opening in said section, and a wringer mechanism carried by said first section through said bearing means, said closure unit having a second section disposed adjacent said wringer mechanism providing working and drain surfaces for said wringer coextensive with the working and drain surfaces of said first section to establish a drain board area for said wringer mechanism to direct wringer expressed water toward the opening in said first section;

2. In a washing machine in combination, a tub, a closure unit on said tub comprising a first section having working and drain surfaces surrounding an opening in said section arranged for communication with the tub, bearing means provided upon said section in given relation with respect to said tub opening in said section, and a wringer mechanism carried by said first section through said bearing means, said closure unit having a second section disposed adjacent said wringer mechanism providing working and drain surfaces for said .wringer coextensive with the working and drain surfaces of said first section to establish a drain board area for said wringer mechanism to direct wringer expressed water toward the opening in said first section, said bearing means comprising aligned and spaced recesses arranged within said first section, swingable means carried by one of said sections, said wringer mechanism including coacting wringer rolls, one roll being rotatably carried within said spaced recesses and the other roll being rotatably carried upon said swingable means.

3. In a washing machine in combination, a tub, a closure unit on said tub comprising a first section having working and drain surfaces surrounding an opening in said section arranged for communication with the tub, bearing means provided upon said section in given relation with respect to said tub opening in said section, and a wringer mechanism carried by said first section through said bearing means, said closure unit having a second section disposed adjacent said wringer mecha- A nism providing working and drain surfaces forsaid wringer coextensive with the working and drain surfaces of said first section to establish a drain board area for said wringer mechanism to direct wringer expressed water toward the opening in said first section, said bearing meas comprising aligned and spaced recesses arranged within said first section, swingable means carried by one of said sections, said wringer mechanism including coacting wringer rolls, one roll being rotatably carried within said spaced recesses and the other roll being rotatably carried upon said swingable means, and resilient means connected with at least one of said wringer rolls and arranged to normally urge said rolls together and to retain said one roll in operative rotative relation within said aligned and spaced recesses.

4. In a washing machine, in combination, a tub, a closure unit on said tub comprising a first section having working and drain surfaces surrounding an opening in said section arranged for communication with the tub, bearing means provided upon said section in given relation with respect to said tub opening in said sec,- tion, and a wringer mechanism carried by said first section through said bearing means, said closure unit having a second section disposed adjacent said wringer mech anism providing working and drain surfaces for said wringer coextensive With the working and drain surfaces of said first section to establish a drain board area for said wringer mechanism to direct wringer expressed water toward the opening in said first section, said bearing means comprising aligned and spaced recesses arranged within said first section, swingable means carried by one of said sections, said wringer mechanism including coacting wringer rolls, one roll being rotatably carried within said spaced recesses and the other roll being rotatably carried upon said swingable means, and resilient means connected with at least one of said wringer rolls and arranged to normally urge said rolls together and to retain said one roll in operative rotative relation Within said aligned and spaced recesses, and wringer roll release mechanism interposed between said resilient means and said rolls to permit instant roll separation when desired or necessary.

5. In a washing machine, in combination, a walled, cabinet having an open top, a crown supported upon the upper end of said cabinet to provide a cover therefor, said crown having drain surface, areas thereon for wash water dispersion, said crown including a tub suspended from the crown and depending downwardly into said Walled cabinet, said crown having an opening therein to provide access to the interior of said tub, and a wringer comprising coacting rolls, one of said rolls being cradled in deformations formed in said crown with said other roll being swingably mounted directly upon said crown and in a predetermined given relation with respect to said access opening in said crown, with said drain surface areas of the crown flanking said wringer rolls in positions to drain wringer water into said crown opening, power means beneath said crown connected to operate said wringer rolls, and selective transmission means for said power means to drive said wringer.

6. In a washing machine, in combination, a cabinet, a crown secured to and providing a cover member to overlie said cabinet, a washing tub connected with said crown and depending into said cabinet, said crown having an opening formed therethrough for access into the interior of said tub, wringer means assembled into said crown and arranged in a predetermined given relation with respect to the tub access opening in said crown to drain into said opening, said wringer means comprising top and bottom separable rolls with one roll rotatably journalled upon said crown, swingable mechanism on said crown, the other roll being rotatably carried upon said swingable mechanism, said crown having an upstanding ridge terminating at an elevation above said one roll, and said other roll being bodily swingable out of operative relation with respect to said first roll by said swingable mechanism and into a position beneath the top of the upstanding ridge on said crown.

7. In a washing machine, in combination, a cabinet, a crown supported upon said cabinet, a washing tub connected, with, said crown and depending into said cabinet, said crown having an opening therein for access into the interior of said tub, and wringer means assembled into said crown and arranged in a predetermined given relation with respect to the tub access opening in said crown to drain into said opening, said wringer means comprising top and bottom separable rolls with one roll rotatably supported upon said crown, swingable mechanism on said crown, the other roll being rotatably carried upon said swingable mechanism, said crown having an upstanding ridge terminating at an elevation above said one roll, and said other roll being bodily swingable out of operative relation with respect to said first roll by said swingable mechanism and into a position beneath the top of the upstanding ridge on said crown, said swingable mechanism comprising arms pivotally connected with said crown on an axis disposed between said wringer means and said tub opening in said crown, and said bodily swingable roll being adapted to occupy an operative position in contacting relation to said one roll when disposed in one position by said swingable arms. and being adapted to occupy an inoperative position separated from said one roll and disposedin the tub access opening in said crown when bodly actuated into said latter position by said swingable arms.

8. In a washing machine, in combination, a cabinet, a crown supported upon said cabinet, a tub connected with said crown to depend into said cabinet, said crown having an opening therein for access into the interior of said tub, and wringer rolls assembled into said crown proper and arranged in a predetermined given relation with respect to the tub access opening in said crown to drain into said opening, said crown comprising a unitary member having a surface configuration presenting working and drain areas disposed in predetermined relations surrounding the tub opening in the crown, said crown providing a further surface contour area disposed in a given relation adjacent to and flanking said wringer rolls to supply a drain board area for said wringer coextensively arranged with said working and drain areas of the crown.

9. In a washing machine, in combination, a cabinet, a top providing a wringer roll frame as a cover for said cabinet, a tub within said cabinet, and wringer rolls for the frame, said top frame having openings therethrough and said tub having connection with said top frame at one of said openings therein, said wringer rolls being mounted on said top frame and extending into another of the openings in said top frame, and said top having coextensive water retaining and drain surface areas thereon disposed and arranged to surround said openings and to direct wringer discharge water and other excess water into said tub.

10. In a washing machine, in combination, a cabinet a top for said cabinet, a tub disposed within said cabinet, and wringer rolls for the cabinet top, said top having openings therethrough and said tub having connection with said top for access through one of said top openings, said wringer rolls being mounted in said top and extending into another of the openings in said top, said top having coextensive water retaining and drain surface areas thereon disposed and arranged to surround said openings and to direct wringer discharge water and other excess water into said tub, and releasable swingable mechanism connected with one of said wringer rolls and constructed and arranged to bodily actuate said one roll out of operative contact with the other of said rolls and into a stored inoperative position laterally displaced from said other roll and extending into said tub access opening of said top, said other wringer roll remaining in the wringer roll opening of said top.

11. A wringer structure adapted for oriented attachment across an open top cabinet type of washing machine providing a tub and operating mechanisms located within said cabinet, said wringer structure comprising a crown including drain areas formed upon the surface portion thereof for superimposition as drainage means to cover said open cabinet top and to orient the wringer structure with respect to the tub of the machine, said crown having upstanding edge portions surrounding said drain areas and including an opening for the drain areas to provide access to the tub, and a pair of wringer rolls for said crown with coactive means on the crown to mount said rolls directly upon said crown for operative use, said crown having drain board means formed thereon to divert wringer expressed water away from the wringer roll location and through the opening in said crown.

12. In a wringer structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein said coactive means comprises a pair of aligned upwardly open recesses formed in certain of said drain areas to rotatably carry one of said rolls, and cooperative swingable units are provided upon said crown to bodily carry the second roll in operative relation with respect to said first roll, said swingable units including releasable tensioning means to urge said rolls into operative contact with each other.

13. In a wringer structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein said drainboard means is provided with a sloping surface flanking said wringer rolls and descending toward said crown opening to discharge wringer water through the tub opening in the crown, said member being wholly positioned at an elevation located beneath the top level of said upstanding peripheral edge portions of said crown.

14. In a wringer structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein a second opening is provided in said crown to partially accommodate one of said rolls for operation beneath the top level of said upstanding edge portions of the crown, and wherein the coactive means supporting the other of said rolls includes swingable link means to bodily move said other roll from a position above said one roll and above the top level of said upstanding edge portions into a remote position away from its companion roll and into a stored location beneath the top level of said upstanding edge portion of said crown.

15. In an article washing machine, in combination, an upwardly open washing fluid tub, a crown attached to the upper end of said open tub and disposed in overhanging relation beyond the marginal limits of said tub to provide the top working surface for said machine, said crown comprising a body having apertures formed therethrough for communication with said tub interior, and wringer rolls for said crown, said rolls being directly mounted for operative coaction upon integral body portions of said crown and disposed to partially depend through one of said crown body apertures to provide drainage access of wringer roll expressed fluid directly into said tub, and said crown body having an upwardly exposed surface configuration surrounding said crown body apertures, the tub, and the wringer rolls provide drain areas to direct working surface fluid and additional wringer roll express fluid into said tub through the several apertures in said crown body.

16. In a wringer, a frame comprising a unitary crown to engage about and to seat upon the top edges of a washing machine tub including securing means to orient the wringer structure with respect to such a tub, said crown having an access opening formed therethrough for communication with the interior of the tub, a pair of wringer rolls, bearing means on said crown to carry the first roll, a second roll, swingable arms for said second roll pivoted on said crown at locations disposed between said first roll and said crown access opening to permit bodily swinging of said second roll from said first roll location in the direction of said tub access opening in said crown and connected to carry the second roll in operative relation to said first roll, said second roll having circular members thereon positioned in opposite outward relations at the roll ends and beyond the arms carrying said second roll, releasable detent mechanism mounted upon said crown and functioning to hold said second roll against said first roll comprising a swinging bail having a hand grip bar with legs extending toward said crown, spring means carried by said crown and pivotally connected with the adjacent ends of the legs, said legs being arranged for operation laterally outwardly at the sides of said wringer rolls and being further laterally offset intermediate their lengths to provide ledges thereon, said ledges providing means to releasably engage over said circular members on the ends of said second roll when said roll is positioned in operative contact with said first roll by said arms, and said spring means providing means to hold said ledges in contact with said circular elements and to urge said second roll into operative contact with said first roll.

17. In a washing machine having an upwardly open tub, a wringer for said machine comprising a crown to overlie said tub and to provide a working and drain surface top for said tub, and wringer rolls carried by said crown, said crown having spaced apertures formed therein, one for access to said tub and the other being situated in line with the rolls, mechanism on said crown to dispose said rolls in operative contacting position and to store said rolls in spaced and separated positions lying in the general plane of the crown comprising means to cradle one roll in a given relation to said crown, arms on said crown to bodily actuate the other roll between A the two aforementioned positions, and releasable hand controlled detent means swingably mounted upon said crown for operative engagement with portions of said bodily movable roll to hold the latter in operative contact with its companion roll for the wringing cycle.

18. In the combination in claim 17 wherein said detent means consists of a bail having spaced legs arranged to endwise rock upon surface portions of said crown, and spring retaining means carried by said crown and connected to hold said legs in rocking contact upon said crown portions and to permit limited separation of the legs from said crown portions during engagement of said detent means with said movable roll portions.

19. In a washing machine, in combination, a washing machine tub comprising walls terminating with upper end portions defining the marginal edges of the tub, an independent crown lying in the general plane of the marginal tub edges and comprising a shelf surrounding said tub and connected with said marginal tub edges to overlie said tub walls, said crown providing an opening formed therethrough for direct communication with the interior of the tub with surface configurations on the crown to provide working and drain areas about said tub, wringer rolls each directly mounted upon integral portions of the crown in predetermined relation with respect to said crown opening to said tub, said crown having additional drain areas disposed adjacent said wringer roll location and having drain connection with said first mentioned Working and drain surface configurations on said crown to direct wringer roll expressed fluid into said tub through the tub access opening in said crown.

20. In a washing machine, in combination, an upwardly open walled cabinet, a generally horizontally arranged crown structure supported upon the top of the walls of said upwardly open cabinet and comprising a cover over the cabinet, a tub within said cabinet connected independently with said crown structure and depending therefrom in freely suspended relation spaced from said cabinet walls, said crowned structure having spaced openings formed therethrough with one of said openings providing access into the interior of said freely suspended tub, and wringer rolls assembled into said crown structure with said structure providing roll operative supporting means to mount the rolls for operation through another of said spaced openings and in a predetermined given relation with respect to said tub access opening in said crown structure.

21. In a washing machine, in combination, a walled 11 cabinet having an upwardly open top defined by the terminal edges of the cabinet walls, a crown structure supported upon and overlying the upper edges of the cabinet walls and comprising a closure cover across said cabinet, a tub connected with the underside of said crown structure to depend freely therefrom into the confines of said walled cabinet, said crown structure being provided with an opening therethrough for access into the interior of said tub, wringer rolls, aligned bearing elements comprising portions of said. crown structure to operatively dispose said rolls in a predetermined relation with respect to the tub access opening in said structure, said crown structure having drain surface areas thereon to divert wash water from said wringer rolls into said tub through said crown structure opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bunnell et a1. July 27, Tuttle July 3, Aab Sept. 20, Carlson Nov. 14, Lundy Nov. 23, Cain Feb. 1, Hartmann Jan. 6, Cockerill etal May 25, Dunn Jan. 31, White s- June 19, Broderick Mar. 19, 

